Law terminology

obiter dictum- a judge's incidental expression of opinion, not essential to the

decision and not establishing precedent.
ratio decidendi- the point in a case that determines the judgment"
subpoena- a writ commanding a designated person upon whom it has been served
to appear (as in court or before a congressional committee) under a penalty (as a
charge of contempt) for failure to comply ."
Contempt- the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and
its officers.
Jurisprudence - study of law
Ratio legis reason behind the law
circumstantial - (of evidence or a legal case) pointing indirectly toward
someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it.
Intent - may be defined as acts that go before the actual crime and these acts then
merge with the crime.
Larceny- The unauthorized taking and removal of the Personal
Property of another by an individual who intends to permanently
deprive the owner of it; a crime against the right of possession.

Robbery the taking of money or goods in the possession of another, from

his or her person or immediate presence, by force orintimidation.

BurglaryThe criminal offense of breaking and entering a building illegally

for the purpose of committing a crime.

White-collar- crime refers to financially motivated

nonviolent crime committed by business and government
professionals.

Malice - evil intent on the part of a person who commits a

wrongful act injurious to others.

infanticide - the crime of killing a child within a year of birth.

Homicide
The killing of one human being by another human being

Money laundering is the process of transforming the proceeds of

crime and corruption into ostensibly legitimate assets.
murder- the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being
by another.

Manslaughter- is an unlawful killing that doesn't involve malice

aforethoughtintent to seriously harm or kill, or extreme,
reckless disregard for life.

acquit- free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of

not guilty.

sua sponte (Latin: "of his, her, its or their own accord") or suo
motu "on its own motion

ad hominem - (of an argument or reaction) directed against a

person rather than the position they are maintaining.

injunction- a judicial order that restrains a person from

beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the
legal right of another, or that compels a person to carry out a
certain act, e.g., to make restitution to an injured party.

Colloquy- is a routine, highly formalized conversation.

Conversations among the judge and lawyers (as opposed
to testimony under oath) are colloquys.

in re- in the legal case of; with regard to.

Prima facie. Latin for "at first sight

Negotiorum gestio- (Latin for "management of business")

contracts. In the civil law, the negotiorum gestor is one who spontaneously, and wit
hout authority,undertakes to act for another during his absence, in his affairs.

Unjust enrichment- is a legal concept referring to situations in which one person is

enriched at the expense of another in circumstances which the law treats as unjust.

en banc - In law, an en banc session is a session where a case is heard before all the
judges of a court in other words, before the entire bench rather than by a panel
selected from them.

Statutory Law- is the term used to define written laws, usually enacted by a
legislative body. Statutory laws vary from regulatory or administrative laws that
are passed by executive agencies, and common law, or the law created by prior
court decisions.

PRIMA-FACIE, EVIDENCE, CASE- Evidence that is sufficient to raise a

presumption of fact or to establish the fact in question unless rebutted.
A
prima-facie case is a lawsuit that alleges facts adequate to prove the underlying
conduct supporting the cause of action and thereby prevail.

Sui generis - law, when a special and unique interpretation of a case or authority is
found to be necessary;

Non-impairment clause - The non-impairment clause is contained

in Section 10, Article III of the Constitution, which provides that no
law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.